Silo design stumps firefighters; manufacturer called

A new silo design temporarily stumped local firefighters Friday afternoon when they responded to a fire inside the nearly air-tight structure.

ROB JUTEAU

A new silo design temporarily stumped local firefighters Friday afternoon when they responded to a fire inside the nearly air-tight structure.

Firefighters from several departments were called to the Neal and Helen Smith and Sons farm on South Main Street at about 1:30 p.m. Friday and found smoke coming from a Harvestore silo.

A thermal imaging camera was used to assess the situation, but crews could not immediately fight the fire because the silo did not have the entrance points they were used to, Middleville Fire Chief Chris Conover said.

“We were able to find hot spots inside the silo, but because the structure was designed to be air tight, there really was not much we could do,” he said.

Conover said officials on the scene called the silo’s manufacturer to determine a plan of action.

“We were able to speak to the manufacturer and were told that since it is air tight, we should seal the silo up and let the fire burn itself out,” he said. “We followed their advice.”

Firefighters from Middleville, Newport, Dolgeville, East Herkimer and Poland assisted at the scene. Other county departments, including Salisbury and Schuyler, were on standby.

The fire departments and county emergency service personnel remained on scene until after 5 p.m.